Week 9 Term 4, 2025

Celebration of Learning is ready to go on Thursday and the staff plus all students look forward to seeing you there. Following is the run sheet for the day:

Celebration of Learning, Thursday, December 4, 2025, midday - 3p.m.

Time: 12.30 - 1p.m. 

Who: Raparapa - classroom presentations 

Sharing of learning and artworks based on the Horomatangi story.  Drama, Music, and Visual Art 

Where: Rooms 6, 15 and 16  Students in their own classrooms

Time: 1 - 1.30p.m.

Who: Pirorirori Visual Arts presentation

Students will be performing music, dance, and drama in their group of choice for our visual arts rotations

Pirorirori Art Display Students who selected art as their rotation will be presenting their artwork.

Where: Hall and Hall Foyer

Time: 1.30 - 2p.m.

Who: Tuhuatahi Art - classroom presentations

Students will be presenting their ‘Making a Mark’ art piece. They have created either a whakairo (wood carving), lino printing, tukutuku or a kete raranga (weaving). This will include a written explanation text (similar to a portfolio) that the students will discuss. They will be sharing how the symbolism in their art links to their whānau/whakapapa. 

Where: Rooms 5, 7, 8, 9.  Students in their own classrooms

Time: 2 - 2.30 p.m.

Who: Karapiti presentations Matawhero Visual Arts
Artwork based on the taniwha, Matawhero. Printmaking will be displayed in Room 4

Papier mache sculptures will be displayed in Room 1

Where: Rm 1 & 4

Time: 2.30 - 3 p.m.

Who: Karapiti - Drama & Music 

Presentations themed on the taniwha, Matawhero, who lives in the Waikato River. A musical display and drama performance will tell Matawhero’s story. 

Where: Hall

Athletics and Certificate Assembly

I have added an additional assembly on Friday, December 5, 2025, for the Athletics certificates and will use that opportunity to also present the ICAS exam certificates and the remaining Kiwi Competition certificates.  

We have also been presenting certificates for students who have over 80 percent attendance at school for the year, up to the time of writing the certificates. This has been a mammoth task. Great to see that many students attend school regularly.

Attendance

The push is on to get every child to school every day to access as much learning as they can. The school has been charged with contacting more and more parents about why their child is not at school. There will be letters and phone calls starting on day one to families.

As teachers, we know that there is a correlation between attendance and learning. 

I do understand there can be a conflict in messaging that if the student is unwell stay home. Then we are chasing families about attendance. For students truly unwell, please stay home and simply contact the office to let the team know. 

If you have planned an overseas trip for 2026, please come into school and collect the overseas pack for learning.

Lost Property

The school has a lot of unclaimed sweatshirts and hoodies. This cupboard is cleared out at the end of the year. Come in and take some home. Such a lot of money is sitting in that cupboard and should be sitting in the homes that purchased it.

Water Day

My arm has been twisted - it is going ahead.

The annual wet block is planned for Friday, December 12, 11.30 a.m.- 1 p.m. Togs and towels are needed for the day. Extra clothing is also a good idea, and I would recommend a rash top for the slippery slide. Water toys are able to come to school and are stored until they are needed. 

For those students who are not confident about joining the Water Day. Class teachers have an alternative, indoor day planned. 

Board Treat

As a reward from the Board of Trustees, I have arranged through our wonderful sponsors, Event Rent, to have bouncy castles at school on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. They will be set up in the hall, and there is a timetable for all classes and students who have been showing POWER to have a fun time.

End of year reports, meet the teacher and stationery lists

Final reports will be released to families on December 12, 2025. As the portal eTap @school is live, you can start to access the learning throughout the year. Teachers are still working in the portal to finish their final achievement judgments. For those who collect written reports, please contact the office. They will help you get a hard copy for your file.

Meet the teacher for 2026 is planned for Friday, December 12, 10.30 - 11 a.m.  As we are currently appointing staff, I cannot guarantee all teachers will be present on the day.  

Any changes to teachers will also be communicated to the community in the first newsletter of 2026 that goes out towards the end of January. Office opening hours will be on the website.

Stationery lists are being prepared and will be on sale from the office and from Office Products (another wonderful sponsor).  The lists will be given out on the day of the meeting with the teacher and will be available on the website.

The school purchases pencils and whiteboard markers for all classes. It means that all pencils are the same, fit all the pencil sharpeners, and, if any faults are identified, can be sent back. 

Staffing

We welcome Abby Garland to the school for the start of 2026. Abby was a student teacher with us a number of years ago. It is lovely to have her back with us. 

We farewell Olivia Graham, as previously mentioned, as well as Matt Astle, Jonas Bucher, Tayla Nicholson and Deborah Berger, who are off to other schools. We thank them for all their work at the school.

I would also like to acknowledge Divya Singh, who has completed her two year teacher registration and will be celebrated on December 5, 2025, with a function with other schools.

I look forward to seeing you all at the final assembly as we wrap up the year.

Just a reminder that school finishes at 12.30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Buses will operate in the morning as normal. There will be no buses at 12.30 p.m. to take students home.

Ngā manaakitanga

Paula

Term Dates for 2026

Term One: February 2 – April 2

Term Two: April 20 – July 3

Term Three: July 20 – September 25

Term Four: October 12 – December 15